Giving Birth Control to Teenagers - Essay Example

Giving Birth Control to Teenagers One of the pressing questions in the contemporary American climate relates to teenage sexual practices and the complications that often arise as a direct result of these practices. One of the primary questions in this spectrum of investigation is whether teenagers should be given birth control. This issue has raised a great amount of controversy with organizations such as Planned Parenthood being the frequent target of protest. Indeed, most individuals can recall driving past such an organization and finding groups of protestors picketing outside.

This essay considers questions of teenage birth control and argues that it is in the best interest of the country to permit teenager’s access to it. One of the primary arguments against providing birth control to teenagers is that it encourages them to engage in sexual relations. When one considers this argument, it’s demonstrated to be completely erroneous. The human sexual drive is one of the primary instinctual motivations and as such teenagers will continue to experiment with sex whether effective contraception is made available or not.

Indeed, teenage pregnancy rates are on the rise (Dawn). In these regards, it’s clear that policymakers must make a shift in their perspectives from viewing birth control as a harmful element, to one that can actually aid teenagers who are already engaging in sexual practices. The idea that birth control contributes to teenage sex is in large part derived from a naive notion of teenage sexual norms. Policymakers are assuming that in the process of educating teenagers of their birth control options, the teenagers will suddenly become sexually aware and decide to engage in sexual practices.

In reality teenagers are not this naive. In prohibiting birth control then policy makers are essentially increasing the chances of teenage pregnancy, as teenagers will increasingly resort to riskier methods of intercourse. The concept that prohibiting birth control will reduce teenage sex is clearly a misguided concept. Teenage sex is in great part derived from media presentations of sexual actions. When one considers contemporary television, film, and even advertising it’s clear that the most predominant theme is the implementation of sex and sexual imagery to sell products and create user interest.

Teenage sex is informed by this pervasive cultural imagery. In attempting to shift the blame to birth control, policymakers and protestors are making a misguided diagnosis of the problem. Instead of targeting birth control, these policymakers should target the cultural representations that promote teenage sexual practices, rather than the only outlet that is actually functioning to reduce the problem of pregnancy. Furthermore, it’s also noted that in restricting access to birth control policymakers are also increasing the propensity of teenagers contacting sexually transmitted diseases.

(‘Birth Control Health Center’). Ultimately, in restricting birth control policymakers are making misguided policies that increase the risk of teenage pregnancy and STDs. In conclusion, it’s clear that prohibiting teenager’s access to birth control is a bad policy decision. This essay has demonstrated that rather than encouraging teenage pregnancy, birth control is an important element for reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Furthermore, targeting birth control is a misguided approach, as the real problem of teenage sex is found in media representations that encourage such actions.

Ultimately, in prohibiting birth control policymakers are hurting the country. References ‘Birth Control Health Center.’ (2011) WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth- control/birth-control-teens-and-birth-control Dawn, Stacey (2009). ‘Teen Pregnancy’ Contraception. http://contraception.about.com/od/talkingaboutbirthcontrol/i/teenpregna ncy.htm